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Comparing jagua and henna

The tattoo gel jagua is 100 percent natural and is extracted from the sap of the South American genipap fruit.

The henna tattoo paste is 100 percent natural and is made from the dried, crushed leaves and stems of the henna plant.

Origins

South America, the Amazon

India, Africa, Middle East

Composition

Jagua gel consists of an extract of the genipap fruit and contains the following additives: citric acid, rosemary or lavender (essential oils) and xanthan gum.

Henna is made from the dried, crushed leaves and stems of the henna plant and contains the following additives: black tea, lemon juice, sugar and essential oils

Application

Jagua gel is usually applied using an applicator bottle with a cap. Precise drawings can be drawn by applying light pressure.

Henna paste is usually squeezed through rolled cellophane (cones). For application, the use of an applicator bottle with a cap is recommended.

Drying time

15-30 minutes

10-20 minutes

Colour development after drying time

The intense colour of jagua gel develops in a few hours and should stay on your skin for no more than 3 hours.

The longer henna is in contact with your skin, the more intense its colour will become. Henna paste should remain on the skin for at least 5 hours. 8 hours is better and 12 hours is ideal.

After application and fixing

After application, the jagua gel should be left to work for 2-3 hours. Be sure that the tattoo does not come into contact with other objects during this time.

Apply the henna care to the henna paste. This creates a sticky layer that supports the colour development and protects the henna from crumbling.

Washing after exposure

Jagua gel stains your skin quickly and powerfully! Therefore, you should rinse with warm water after max. 3 hours contact time. Keep the tattoo warm after washing, using a hot water bottle, a corm heat pad, etc., as heat makes the colour develop.

Henna tattoos should be protected from water for at least 24 hours. Argan oil provides optimum protection. Just wear it on your fresh henna tattoo. Basically, the longer the contact with water is avoided, the more intense the resulting colour will be.

Colour

The final colour result is dark blue to black, like "real" tattoos.

The final colour is reddish brown.

Colour development

After washing, the jagua tattoo is hardly visible and has a light grey to light blue colour. After about 3 hours a dark blue colour comes through and after 12 -24 hours the tattoo emits deep blue-black.

The colour of henna tattoos needs some time: from bright orange in the first 10 hours it develops into a red-brown over the next 24-48 hours.

Colour strength

The most intense colour result can generally be achieved on the hand and the foot. On the back and the chest, jagua gel colours the skin less intensely. Dry skin is more receptive to colouration by jagua gel than oily skin.

The most intense colour result can generally be achieved on the hand and the foot. Dry skin is more receptive to colouration by henna dye than oily skin.

Durability

1-2 weeks

1-2 weeks

Allergic reactions

Allergic reactions to jagua are known to be very rare. People who have allergic reactions to berries (e.g.: strawberries, blueberries) or rosemary oil should avoid using jagua gel. For very sensitive skin we recommend a skin compatibility test. If an allergic reaction occurs, wash the gel off completely and go to the doctor.

Allergic reactions to henna are known to be very rare. If an allergic reaction should occur, this is not necessarily the henna powder, but in most cases the lemon juice or essential oils used. If an allergic reaction occurs, wash the paste off completely and go to the doctor.

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Note

What is PPD or black henna and why should I avoid it?

Para-phenylenediamine (PPD) is a chemical that is often used in black hair dye, and may cause severe skin irritation and cause permanent scarring. Black henna is also often mixed with PPD and is – unlike natural henna and jagua – not recommended for use on the skin.

It is often not easy to tell by looking whether the tattoo artist is using black henna or PPD, because the colour looks as fresh and dark as natural henna and jagua.

Nevertheless, we have some tips on how you can find out if an artist works with harmful chemicals:

– Ask the henna artists about the origin and nature of the products used. If the products are mixed on site, find out about their composition.

– Henna or jagua products with a 100 percent natural composition – free of any chemical substances – have a limited, relatively short shelf life: ready mixed, natural jagua gel and henna pastes usually keep only a few days. If stored correctly, they can still be used after a few weeks. If shelf lives of several months or a year are indicated, this can be achieved only by the addition of chemicals. That means: stay away!

– If the skin colours very quickly and darkly, this is also an indication that a product with chemical additives has been used. In purely natural products, colouring is a process that requires different times for each person.